Upstate Merchant Advocates

07/04/2026

07/02/2026

Some of us take fighting for small business very seriously. 👆

Over the last 20 years I've saved businesses an average of 15–30% on their processing fees — and some didn't just save — they eliminated processing fees entirely with a Cash Discount program.

No contracts. Free equipment. Just someone finally in your corner.

DM me. Let's bring those fees back down to earth. 🌎

06/17/2026

Upstate SC business owners — if you’re running SkyTab or Shift4, this notice is worth your attention.

Effective July 1, 2026, Shift4 is rolling two separate annual fees into one $2,000 annual billing every August for many of their merchants. They’re framing it as a convenience. Your wallet may see it differently.

There are better options out there — modern, full-featured point-of-sale solutions at a fraction of the cost, with no hidden reshuffling of fees.

Curious what else is out there? Send me a DM and let’s talk.

04/01/2026

In a stunning development that sent shockwaves through the financial industry and caused several payment processing consultants to spit out their morning coffee, Visa and Mastercard jointly announced Tuesday that they will immediately and permanently eliminate all credit card processing fees for merchants worldwide.

Link below for details...

Upstate Merchant Advocates The Merchant Gazette Your Trusted Source for Payment Processing News · Special Edition Wednesday, April 1, 2026  ·  Vol. 1, No. 1 Upstate South Carolina Breaking Visa & Mastercard Announce They Will No Longer Charge Businesses Any Credit Card Processing Fees "We just f...

03/11/2026

🚨 Exciting News for Retail Businesses! 🚨

We’re thrilled to announce that Upstate Merchant Advocates is now offering Material POS, a cutting-edge point-of-sale solution designed specifically for independent retailers.

If you own any of the following, this system is definitely worth checking out:

• Boutique or clothing store
• Gift shop
• Pet supply store
• Jewelry store
• Home décor shop
• V**e or smoke shop
• Specialty retail business

Material POS seamlessly connects your in-store sales, online orders, inventory management, loyalty programs, and marketing—everything you need in one powerful platform. It’s a direct competitor to popular systems like Shopify, Lightspeed POS, and Clover POS, but with more flexibility and superior integration between in-store and e-commerce.

At Asheville Merchant Advocates, we specialize in pairing the right payment processing with the right technology, helping business owners improve their checkout experience while reducing unnecessary fees.

If you’re currently using Shopify, Clover, or Lightspeed, and feel there might be a better solution out there, we’re here to show you how Material POS can transform your operations.

We’re now offering live demos to walk you through the system.

💬 Shoot me a DM
📞 864-973-7679

Message us or give us a call to learn more about how Material POS can streamline your business!

02/07/2026

Give Upstate Merchant Advocates a call to understand what your real options are for a better processing system.

864-906-2386